Trance-fusion pioneers, The Disco Biscuits, laid down some serious jamtronica heat at NYC’s PlayStation Theatre on Saturday during their annual New Year’s run. PlayStation Theatre is closing permanently at the conclusion of this run, and the Biscuits are ensuring the venue goes out with a bang. The Disco Biscuits members include Allen Aucoin (drums), Marc Brownstein (bass), Jon Gutwillig (guitar), and Aron Magner (synthesizers).
Saturday’s first set included a delicious “Munchkin Invasion” jam sandwich, filled with an inverted “The Great Abyss.” The second set intensified with jam vehicles “Caterpillar” and “Spraypaint” seguing into a fresh and dirty “Tractorbeam Jam,” and then right back into both.
Tickets are still available for the two remaining nights of this soon to be legendary run at this link. FOMO can truly be damned because the band is webcasting this historic run as well. Head over to their Youtube page for more details.
Set One: King Of The World> Munchkin Invasion> The Great Abyss*> Story Of The World> Freebis Slinky> Munchkin Invasion
Set Two: Caterpillar> Spraypaint> Humuhumunukunukuapua’a**> Tractorbeam Jam> Caterpillar, Air Song> Spraypaint
Just as Phishmas at YEMSG got underway last night, so too did after party season. Night one’s offerings were numerous, highlighted by the one-off supergroup of John Medeski (keys), Billy Martin (drums), Scott Metzger (guitar, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead), and Nels Cline (guitar, Wilco) at Sony Hall. Not to discount the draws of Metzger and Cline, but MMW’s acid jazz has been intertwined with the Phish scene since 1995 and this highly anticipated show would eventually sell out in the hours before its 1:00 am start, leaving many fans outside on the sidewalk.
Sony Hall occupies the footprint of The Diamond Horseshoe, a celebrated and historic Times Square dinner theater with a standing room capacity of 1,000. The room is trimmed with gold paint, coffered ceilings and a disco ball, and lounge seating around the perimeter, lending to its historic feel. The room sounded great, although overcrowding was a serious deterrent for many.
Medeski, Cline, Metzger, and Martin were arranged audience left to right respectively, and began their two hour improvisational journey just before 1:00 a.m. Medeski would contribute the evening’s bass lines on his keys, as he and Martin provided the anchoring rhythm section for guitarists Cline and Metzger to explore in, on, and around. There were gorgeous moments of Metzger shred amidst a backdrop of effects heavy psychedelic exploration from Cline. The tempo was deliberate and purposeful and, coupled with the intense crowding, didn’t create much of a dancing atmosphere. At times the music felt almost transcendent, as Medeski and Martin created an ambient space for guitarists Metzger and Cline to play, their guitar work totally dictated by the tempo and beat of the drums and keys.
These musicians clearly enjoyed playing with one another as they treated those who braved the crowds and the late hours to a two hour set of improvisation that ended at 3:00 a.m. Sony Hall will host after shows on nights two and three as well, with Star Kitchen on 12/29 and Ghost Note plays Prince on 12/30.
It’s been 25 years since their first New Year’s Run show at Madison Square Garden, and Phish kicked off four nights of shows to end 2019 with some new material, a second set chock full of improv, and an “On Broadway” jam.
The festivities began with the debut of a new Phish original, “Evening Song.” Sung by guitarist Trey Anastasio, the opener had many looking around and checking phones to find out what exactly it was. From there, the first set took a second set type of turn with a rousing “No Men In No Man’s Land” and a monstrous “Down with Disease” that followed. Another first timer then appeared in the form of “20-20 Vision” as bassist Mike Gordon took the reigns and sang the cover song originally recorded by the great Gene Autry. “Ghost” then seemed to shift things back to the second set frame of mind courtesy of a locked in, psychedelic groove it produced. Another first set highlight was the first “Dog Faced Boy” since 2016. The opening stanza closed with a powerful “Say It to Me S.A.N.T.O.S.” which was a nod to the New Year’s spectacle of last year.
With sprits high, “Everything’s Right” was an ideal choice to open the second set. Phish let it be known to all that they were on point and having fun with discernable “On Broadway” teases from Anastasio and keyboardist Page McConnell that highlighted a “Set Your Soul Free” that transitioned seamlessly into “Gotta Jibboo.” about the second set jams, Barry Mann wrote “On Broadway” and the Guy Forget lyrics in the “Drowned” jam. Another true highlight was the triumphant return of “Drowned,” the Who cover that hadn’t been played in more than a year. Things then got a little silly thanks to “Ass Handed,” sung as usual by drummer Jon Fishman. This led to a wacky “Chalkdust Torture Reprise” of sorts that was sung to the tune of “Ass Handed” before “Character Zero” showed up in its predictable set closing slot. Further showcasing their ability to be sensitive and fun at the same time, an encore of “A Life Beyond the Dream” and “Rocky Top” closed the book on night one of the 2019 New Year’s run.
Setlist via Phish.net
Phish, December 28, 2019, Madison Square Garden, NY, NY
Set 1: Evening Song[1], No Men In No Man’s Land, Down with Disease, 20-20 Vision[2], Ghost, Gumbo > Rift, Weigh, Dog Faced Boy, Twenty Years Later > Tube > Say It To Me S.A.N.T.O.S.
Set 2: Everything’s Right > Beneath a Sea of Stars Part 1 > Set Your Soul Free -> Gotta Jibboo > Free > Piper, Drowned, Ass Handed > Chalk Dust Torture Reprise[3] > Character Zero
Encore: A Life Beyond The Dream, Rocky Top
[1] Debut. [2] Phish debut. [3] With lyrics changed to Ass Handed.
Charleston, SC’s Runaway Gin delivered their “Evil Phish” covers to the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, NY on December 26, to a crowd excited for the upcoming Phish run at Madison Square Garden. Led by Dentist and guitarist Andy Greenburg, the funky jams hit for two delicious sets.
Space Junk is Forever opened the evening with vintage instruments and their self-described “simple melodies, stirring harmonic language, and frequent key and meter changes into impressionistic, aptly titled tunes.”
Notable covers by Runaway Gin included “Punch You In the Eye,” “Stash” and “David Bowie.” “Bowie” had excellent guitar work by Greenburg, and the crowd was loving the jam in “Stash.”
Runaway Gin is on tour this winter, with more doses of “Evil Phish.” Visit their tour page here.
Fleetwood Mac’s Rumors is one of rock’s iconic albums. Annie in the Water and Hayley Jane will be joining forces this winter to pay tribute to this classic album.
The Hayley in the Water Spread Rumors Tour begins Feb. 5 at the Waterhole in Saranac Lake and wraps in Burlington at Higher Ground. The tour will visit cities throughout the Northeast from Buffalo to Hartford, CT. Stops include Flour City Station in Rochester, the Buffalo Iron Works, Stone Church in Brattleboro, VT and the Disruption Network‘s third-anniversary party in Utica.
The full-set tribute to Rumors will be sandwiched between sets of original music from both acts, beginning with an acoustic solo set from Burlington’s Hayley Jane. Annie in the Water closes each show with Hayley Jane sitting in.
Hayley Jane has recently collaborated with Ryan Montbleau in the duo Yes Darling, a project that presents a whimsical take on relationships with a Vaudevillian vibe. Her solo set draws from folk, blues, musical theater, and ’60s and ’70s pop and rock. Her performance of “The Chain” with Montbleau and moe. at the 2017 moe.down was one of the highlights of that weekend.
Annie in the Water released its latest album Time to Play in June of this year. This is the band’s second album overall and first since the 2011 debut Destination. They’re riding a wave of tremendous success in 2019 which saw them performing at several festivals, including headlining Woods Fest in Westernville, NY this past August and the Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance in Pittsboro, NC in October.
Prior to the February Hayley in the Water tour, Annie in the Water will finish the year with a two-date New Year’s run that has them performing at the official moe. post-party, the Hometown Throwdown Dec. 30 at The Sanctuary in Utica with special guests. They’ll ring in the new year with Raisinhead at the High Peaks Resort Ballroom in Lake Placid. Tickets for both shows are available now.
Hayley in the Water Spreading Rumors Tour Dates:
Feb. 5 – The Waterhole – Saranac Lake, NY
Feb. 7 – Frog Alley Brewing Company – Schenectady, NY
Feb. 8 – Disruption Network’s 3rd Anniversary – Jewish Community Center – Utica, NY
Dark Star Jubilee will feature host and headliner Dark Star Orchestra for six sets over May 22-24, 2020. Held in Thornville, OH, Dark Star Jubilee has evolved into a celebration of the music of the Grateful Dead, as well as a reunion of performers in the broader Grateful Dead scene.
Announced acts for the festival include Oteil & Friends, Galactic (featuring Anjelika Jelly Joseph), Zero (featuring Steve Kimock, Gregg Anton, Pete Sears and Melvin Seals), The Infamous Stringdusters, Jorma Kaukonen, Keller Williams, Marco Benevento, Jeff Mattson & Friends and Holly Bowling. Also performing are Rumpke Mountain Boys, Mystic Bowie’s Talking Dreads, Dino English & The Progfusionals and Katie Henry Band.
Dark Star Orchestra will close out 2019 with two nights at The Palace Theatre in Albany over December 28-29 and head to The Wellmont in Montclair, NJ for two final nights. More info and tickets can be found here.
“The Jerry Dance Party,” a unique and immersive late-night audio/visual experience held at ZeroSpace in New York City will return to close out 2019, immediately following Phish at Madison Square Garden on December 28, 29, and 30. Fans can walk one convienent block to ZeroSpace.
“The three-night Jerry Dance Party at ZeroSpace is a chance for Deadheads and Phisheads alike to experience the mind-bending marriage of cutting-edge audio-visual technology with the timeless music of the Grateful Dead.” says concert promoter and Relix publisher Peter Shapiro.
The three-night art-tech event will feature “custom projections, interactive LED screens, projection mapped floors, synchronized illuminations, the largest augmented reality sandbox in the world and more, all tuned to the magical sounds of the Dead.” Additionally, ZeroSpace will feature a 3D mapped, 30-foot geodesic dome synchronized to “Drums & Space” all night long.
A successful inaugural edition of “Jerry Dance Party” was held following Dead and Company’s Halloween run at Madison Square Garden, leading to the three-night event being announced. Helming the events music will be DJ Jerrbrother.
“The shows we did around Dead & Company were over the top and we can’t wait to return to ZeroSpace,” says Stephen Grybowski, co-producer of The Jerry Dance Party. “We’re taking some of the most psychedelic art-tech available and pairing it with the most amazing song catalog known to man. Our goal is to bring the energy and vibe of the early events produced by The Merry Pranksters into 2019. I have a feeling they’d be very proud.”
And as if these three nights weren’t enough, the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, N.Y. is hosting a similar event, “A Very Jerry Holiday Dance Party,” on Dec. 27. “At the Dec. 27 ‘Very Jerry Holiday Dance Party’ you can experience The Capitol Theatre like never before, as the ghosts of Grateful Dead past come alive to our amazing, state-of-the-art sights and sounds,” adds Shapiro.
The Jerry Dance Party will feature concert-quality sound throughout each room so jam fans can dance to the Dead until dawn. Tickets are $30 per night.
Our annual recap of the Best of 2019 has arrived at music festivals. Just like when fans arrive at these ever-popular weekend extravaganzas, we’re bright-eyed and bushy-tailed looking forward to what surprises lay around the corner. Our staff has been to dozens of festivals around the country, and of course, across New York State, where we have the most music festivals of any state! Whether it’s the original Woodstock, Summer Jam at Watkins, The Clifford Ball, Mountain Jam or Jazz Fests, New York is home to some of the most historic music festivals in American music history.
If you missed our earlier selections for 2019’s best “under the radar” bands, and our albums of the year, go here and catch up. What festivals had the kids dancing and shaking their bones? Let’s take a look at the best festivals in New York State.
Best New York State Festivals
Adirondack Music Festival
In only it’s fifth year, Adirondack (aka, ADK Fest) Music Festival has established itself as the Labor Day weekend event in Lake George, with fans pouring in from across the Northeast to see Twiddle, Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Pink Talking Fish, Everyone Orchestra, G. Love and Special Sauce, and many more. For two days and two crazy late nights, Charles R. Wood Park, just a stones throw from the shores of Lake George attracted thousands of live music fans in one of the most intimate settings you’ll find for a music festival. Miles Hurley said of the festival:
All of this top-notch live music was met resolutely throughout the weekend with a positive and welcoming vibe, upheld via a sense of strong community and creativity. For mid-size festivals Adirondack Music Festival is one of the best you can experience in the ever-musically-fertile land of upstate NY—yet here’s to a steady growth from mid-size to who knows how big.
Here’s to another fantastic year of ADK Fest in 2020!
Governors Ball
Despite most of Sunday’s performances being cancelled due to intense storms in the area, Governors Ball was a rousing success, with performances by Tyler the Creator, Florence and The Machine, Nas, Lily Allen, Lil Wayne, and The 1975 among others. The 2020 edition will return to Randall’s Island June 5-7, although the festival has been looking into relocating to the Bronx for future installments.
CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest
Now in it’s 18th year, one of the most well known annual festivals in New York, CGI Rochester International Jazz Fest, brings together musicians and jazz luminaries from across the country and the world. The eight day-long festival will introduce you to new artists, hard to catch acts and significant musicians who should be on your radar.
Eli Stein profiled 10 artists that caught his eye (and ear) at the 2019 installment, including Girls in Airports, Enemy, Paris Monster and Spaga, to name a few. Read more about these acts and get ready for the 2020 edition, to be held July 19-27.
Night Lights Music Festival
A staple of Western New York, Night Lights Music Festival once again brought a diverse lineup to the Heron Farm and Event Center in Sherman, NY. Staples such as Aqueous, !!!, Big Something, and Girl Talk headlined the affair, but the visual thrill is a major draw year after year.
Kat Horton, Night Lights Marketing and Artist Relations specialist said to NYS Music, “While creating the lineup for the festival each year it is always a priority to make sure to share new music. We want to be your gateway festival, we want you to trust us and trust that we will blow your mind.” She also explained that while curating the lineup, the focus is to tell a story. “We try to create an ebb and flow to the layout of each daily schedule, we want the weekend to create a story.”
Check out some of the action from this year’s installment from Strawberry Island Dweller here.
Best Out of State Festival
Peach Fest was the runaway winner this year, and for good reason. The lineup for this year was stacked top to bottom with a who’s who of jambands, classic rock acts and up and coming groups, including Goose, who put on a memorable set that burst them out into as of the strongest and most exciting new acts. Writer Jared Lindquist said of the festival, “This weekend was full of great music and rarely ever had a lull in things to do. Spirits were high and the weather was great until the yearly rain on Sunday night. Peach is an event not to miss.” His detailed take on the festival, covering sets from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Trey Anastasio Band, Mungion and more can be found here.
The 2020 edition of Peach already is a contender for lineup of the year, with Oysterhead, Joe Russo’s Almost Dead, String Cheese Incident, moe., Umphrey’s McGee, Twiddle, Turkuaz, and dozens more. Find out more info on Peach Fest 2020 here.
Chameleonize, a six-piece acid-jazz / funk-fusion band based in New York City, will be joined by Nerd Salad for a Phish After-Party at Arlene’s Grocery on the Lower East Side on Sunday, December 29.
Doors are at 11:30pm, with Chameleonize at Midnight and Nerd Salad at 1:00am. Tickets are $10 in advance or $12 day of show. More info can be found here.
Chameleonize draw influences from Erykah Badu, Snarky Puppy, and Hiatus Kaiyote. They combine complex musical sequences with attractive pop melodies and hip-hop grooves, and exhibit a unique twist on contemporary music. Current members include Gabi Feliciano on vocals and alto saxophone, Mo LaMastro on guitar, Brian Gipson on guitar, Mikey Rotunno on bass, and Jake Navarro on drums.
Nerd Salad’s music is the product of childhood friends combining their love for the melodies of alternative rock, with their appreciation for technical musicianship. Their debut album Your Father And I Aren’t Angry, We’re Just Disappointed showcases the wide range of styles Nerd Salad is capable of. In just under twenty minutes of music, they leap from the infectious melodies of indie rock, to the psychedelic grooves of funk rock, and even the crushing breakdowns of metal, all while keeping their lyrics witty and relatable. Nerd Salad is truly an act that offers a little something for everyone.
Aqueous has revealed the themes for their New Years Run shows at The Town Ballroom in Buffalo to end 2019. The hometown band will present “Almost Dazed and Confused” on December 30, and “Fast Times at The BreAQfast Club” on New Year’s Eve.
The Buffalo-bred quartet has also asked fans to dress in their “funkiest 70’s gear” on the 30th and to “get your spandex ready, cause we’re headed straight to the 80’s” on New Year’s Eve. Tickets to both shows are on sale now.
